Cordova church celebrates America with musical

Church lifts celebration to veterans, patriotic spirit

Chris Desmond/Special to The Commercial Appeal
Soloist Carrie Carlisle, 13, blind from birth, leads the Girl's Choir in the song "The lights of Freedom" during the First Assembly of God Church's annual Celebrate America service that featured music, re-enactments and tributes in Cordova on Sunday.

In full uniform, recently retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Ben Marquass shook hands with fellow First Assembly of God members with red, white and blue confetti strewn about their feet.

The confetti concluded the church's annual "Celebrate America" musical production and worship service on Sunday, during which Marquass, who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, was among dozens of military servicemen and women who were recognized.

"Because we know that freedom is never free, we want to honor these people that serve our nation …," said First Assembly senior pastor Tom Lindberg. "What it means to our people is a way to say thank you for your service so that we can be free and we can worship as we want, live as we want and speak as we want."

The musical featured renditions of patriotic anthems including "America the Beautiful," "Let Freedom Ring" and "God Bless the USA," each preceded by theatrical asides and narration recounting significant moments in American history.

"It's a story that so few people tell anymore," said First Assembly music and worship pastor Bob Geabhart. "Few people talk about our heritage or where we came from or how much we have to be grateful for compared to the rest of the world."

First Assembly began the annual production in 2003. Several local elected officials, including Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, received a blessing from Lindberg during the nearly two-hour service.

"May the Holy Spirit reveal to each of you the path to success in your office and in your assignments … and may the Lord bless you for your service to our county, to our city, to our state," Lindberg prayed.

Local police, firefighters and other law enforcement personnel were also honored at Sunday's service.

"It's a great production," Marquass said. "It does America and the service members a good tribute."

Marquass humbly said that tribute wasn't necessary. But standing with family and friends after its conclusion, and red, white and blue confetti checkering his polished black shoes, he said the production reminded him why he enlisted.

"The thing is — and I speak for myself and most of the guys I work with — we don't do it for the recognition. It's nice to be appreciated and this is a great way to show appreciation for service members, but most service members ... they're doing it for their family, for their country."